Infratemporal And Pterygopalatine Fossae Flashcards by Jhaunte Braithwaite

What is the infratemporal fossae?

• It is the space inferior to the temporal fossa

• Complex space that serves as the gateway for neurovascular structures between
– cranial cavity and oral cavity
– cranial cavity and nasal cavity

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What is contained within the infratemporal fossae?

• Contains
– Lateral & medial pterygoid muscles
 – Temporalis muscle
– Maxillary artery
– Pterygoid venous plexus
– Mandibular division of the trigeminal nerve 
– Chorda tympani nerve
– Otic ganglion

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What make up the roof of the infratemporal fossa?

– Greater wing of sphenoid
– Temporal bone
• Foramen ovale (CNV3) and spinosum (middle
meningeal artery)

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What make up the lateral wall of the infratemporal fossa?

• Lateral wall
– Ramus of mandible
• Mandibular Foramen

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What make up the anterior wall of the infratemporal wall?

• Anterior wall

Maxilla

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What forms the posterior wall of the infratemporal fossa?

Posterior wall
Styloid process Mastoid process Stylomastoid foramen
(CNVII)

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What forms the medial wall of the infratemporal fossa?

Pterygomaxillary fissure
(gateway to PT fossa)
Lateral pterygoid plate

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What is the classification of the temporomandibular joint?

Classification
– Atypical synovial joint
– Modified hinge/ condylar

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What are the Articular surfaces of the tempo mandibular joint?

• Articular surfaces:
– Condyle of the mandible
– Articular tubercle of temporal bone
(anteriorly)
– Mandibular fossa

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What nerve innervates the temporomandibular joint?

Innervation

– Auriculotemporal nerve

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What’s the special feature of the temporomandibular joint?

Special feature

– Articular disc, helps glide over the articular tubercle when opening mouth

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What is special about the temporomandibular joint Articular surface?

Articular surfaces not covered with hyaline cartilage
Fibrocartilage resembling epiphyseal plate
Withstand shear and compression forces

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Contrast the location and function of the lateral and medial pterygoid?

Lateral pterygoid
Lateral pterygoid plate Mandibular neck Depression and protrusion

Medial pterygoid
Lateral pterygoid plate
Internal aspect of the mandibular angle
Elevation

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What are the muscles of mastication?

Temporalis

Lateral pterygoid

Masseter

Medial pterygoid

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Where does the temporalis insert? What it’s movement?

Temporalis
Temporal fossa, mandibular head and neck
Elevation and retrusion

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What are the insertions of the lateral pterygoid? What’s its function?

Lateral pterygoid
Lateral pterygoid plate, mandibular neck
Depression and protrusion

What are the insertions of the masseter? What’s the function and movements of the masseter?

Masseter
Angle of mandible, zygomatic arch
Elevation, protrusion, retrusion

What’s the insertions and functions of the medial pterygoid?

Medial pterygoid

Lateral pterygoid plate, internal aspect of the mandibular angle
Elevation

What muscles are responsible for depression ?

Gravity

Digastric, geniohyoid, and mylohyoid

What muscles are responsible for elevation?

Temporalis, masseter, medial pterygoid

What muscles are responsible for retraction?

Posterior fibers of Temporalis, deep part of masseter and geniohyoid and digastric

What muscles are responsible for protrusion ?

Lateral pterygoid assisted by medial pterygoid

What is the terminal branch of the external carotid? What does it supply?

Maxillary artery

Terminal branch of the external carotid artery
Supplies the deeper structures of the face
Branches are arranged mainly around the lateral pterygoid muscl

What are the 3 parts of the maxillary artery?

1st part gives branches that enter foramina
2nd part supply muscles
3rd part gives branches that enter foramina

What does sphenopalatine a. Supply?

Passes through the sphenopalatine Foramen Supplies the nasal cavity

What does the infraorbital artery supply?

Passes through Infraorbital foramen Maxillary sinus Face inferior to the eye

What does posterior superior alveolar supply?

Supplies upper teeth

What does descending palatine artery supply?

Divides into lesser and greater palatine

What two arteries anastomose in the incisive Foramen?

Descending palatine and sphenopalatine | anastomose through the incisive Foramen

What are the important inter veinous connections?

There are extensive connections between the cavernous sinus and; – the veins of the face – pterygoid plexus of veins in the infratemporal fossa • Since these veins have no valves, infections and/or thrombi may easily travel to the cavernous sinus through any of these channels • Deep facial vein joins the pterygoid plexus • Maxillary vein continues from the pterygoid plexus • Angular vein becomes the facial vein and joins with the labial veins • Both the facial and maxillary veins drain into the retromandibular

What is the danger area of the face?

Facial vein connections with deeper veins * To cavernous sinus by superior ophthalmic veins (angular vein) * To pterygoid venous plexus by deep facial vein and then to cavernous sinus through inf ophthalmic or emissary veins * Valveless connections • Infections in the danger area of the face can very easily be disseminated intracranially

Where is the pterygopalayine fossa

* Located “inside” the infratemporal fossa * Serves as a gateway to the nasal apparatus * Containsthepterygopalatineganglion/hayfever ganglion

What are the walls of the pterygopalatine fossa?

– Roof: body of sphenoid – Medial: perpendicular plate of the palatine bone – Anterior: posterior wall of maxilla – Posterior: sphenoid

What are the contents of the pterygopalatine fossa?

– Maxillary artery (pterygomaxillary fissure) – Maxillary nerve (Foramen rotundum) – Pterygopalatine ganglion

What are the nerves associated with the pterygopalatine fossa?

* V2 – Maxillary nerve (sensory) – enter via foramen rotundum * Infraorbital nerve (sensory, sympathetic) – exit into inferior orbital fissure as continuation of the maxillary •Nerve of the pterygoid canal (sympathetic and parasympathetic) – enter via the pterygoid canal the combination of; – Greater petrosal nerve (preganglionic parasympathetic) – Deep petrosal nerve (postganglionic sympathetic) • Zygomatic nerve (sensory, sympathetic and parasympathetic postganglionic) • Superior alveolar (sensory, parasympathetic postganglionic